27 July 2006

To The Point

Grumperina posted about the possibility of Addis with pointier tips! Can you imagine, they would be the perfect needles. Read all about it here.

Following is the email I sent.

July 27, 2006
Subject: Pointier Addis

Dear Ms. Skacel Haack,

I’m sure that since the possibility of Addis with pointier tips has been put out into the blogosphere (thanks to Kathy aka Grumperina), you’ll be getting many letters like mine. I do not knit lace, though the idea is appealing, but do knit many socks and love cables, and often find myself wishing I had pointier needles.

I love Addis. Their lightening quick finish (some may even say Turbo), superior join and soft, fluid cable make them an ideal choice. Unfortunately, I often find myself knitting with Inox simply because they have the sharper tip that I desire. Should Addi come out with a line of needles with a pointier tip but like the Turbo in every other way, I would gladly and joyfully replace all my non-Addi circulars.

Thank you for taking the time to read my email.

Sincerely,
Emily XXXXXX
Burlington, VT
802-XXX-XXXX

25 July 2006

Justice will not be served until those who are unaffected are as outraged as those who are.
-Benjamin Franklin, statesman, author, and inventor (1706-1790)

20 July 2006

Thank You!

I think the universe is trying to send me a message. At the post office, while waiting for the postal worker to go get the latest package from my fabulous secret pal I read the following quote on a CF calendar:

"You must be the change you wish to see in the world." -Mahatma Gandhi

Imagine my surprise when I opened my package and found some sticky notes with the same quote. OK, I'm listening.



My SP also sent a beautiful card and 5 skeins of Gedifra Korfu, 50% cotton 50% microfiber, in my favorite color. Thank you, SP!

In other news I think the frogs (yes I know it's really a toad) are trying to reassert their first place status. Observe the new resident in my flowers:

Burn Baby, Burn



Pattern:
Generic, a bit from Handy Patterns, a bit from Sock Soar on 2 Circs, a bit from my own brain, a bit from the web
Yarn: Cherry Tree Hill Supersock Potluck
Color: Brights
Source: Kaleidoscope Yarns
Needles: Inox Pearl Grey, US1, 29"
Size: 8 years - Women's Small
Started: July 9, 2006
Finished: July 19, 2006



This is my first official pair of top-down socks with a heel flap! I was concerned about casting on too tightly so I cast on US3s using the Twisted German Cast-On method. I am in love with this cast-on, it is neat and super stretchy. I love the yarn and Elah thinks it looks like fire. I also made this pair a tad big so Elah won't grow out of them so quickly. She loves them. One day I'll make myself a pair of socks...


17 July 2006

Jack Frost Nipping At Your Nose

I know it's summer and I know it's 95+ outside but winter is just around the corner. Will you be prepared?

You could knit a GIGANTIC scarf:


Or, if you hate your ears and want them to fall off, one of these:

14 July 2006

It Takes A Village

I am finally done with both of the Baby's First Tattoo sweaters. They both knit up quickly but then sat around my house, in pieces, waiting to be seamed. Enter Jessica to the rescue who graciously agreed to take both sweaters home with her and seam them. When they came home all I had to do was pick up the collar stitches, kit the collar and seam that last 1/4 inch or so at the top. Awesome! As a thank you gift I got Jess some wooden US1 Blue Sky Alpacas DPNs is a beautiful tin (They're new so they're not on the web page yet). They're perfect for all her sock knitting.



The green one went to my landlord; he and his wife recently adopted a baby from Guatemala. The pink one has been sent to the woman who was Chair of College Council when I was Chair-Elect. Coincidentally her daughter's name is Rowan.





Pattern: Baby First Tattoo Sweater from SnB Nation
Yarn: Rowan 4-Ply Soft 100% Merino
Colors: 388 Military & 367 Leafy (green), 389 Expresso & 377 Wink (pink)
Source: Yarn Market
Needles: Inox Pearl Grey, US2 circ (pink), Addi Turbo, US3 circ (green)
Size: Child's 18 mo.
Started: April?, 2006
Finished: July 13, 2006

I have to apologize for the poor quality of the seam pic, I forgot to take pictures of Jessica's beautiful seams before I sent the sweaters out so I had to take a picture on the fly with my phone.

Knit up the yarn is lovely, soft & squishy, and I love the stitch definition. Unfortunately when I was knitting the 4 plies felt cordy running through my fingers and the yarn sometimes hurt. I'm happy that the finished garment doesn't show any signs or retain any of the discomfort felt while knitting.

Technically these two sweaters are my first completed sweaters. The pink one, which I finished first is a little wonky around the collar and there are some bits on the green one I'd like to do better the next time around but all in all I'm happy with them.

10 July 2006

All Aboard!



What to know what this is all about? Go here.

07 July 2006

Toe Up From The Flo' Up

Remember how I said I was going to post some short row tutorials? Well I could never compile a more complete list than Sara over a Knitwerks so instead of reinventing the wheel I'll just redirect. The only link I would add is the short row (wraps, not YOs) video over at knitting help. Enjoy!

Done!



Pattern: Wendy's Toe-Up Sock Pattern
Yarn: Schoeller and Stahl Fortissima Colori / Color 9069
Source: My Secret Pal - Thank You!
Needles: Inox Pearl Grey, US1 29"
Size: Child's size 1.5-2 (shoe)
Started: June 25, 2006
Finished: July 2, 2006

I was a little nervous about this yarn because it seemed a bit scritchy but one wash revealed a soft, super comfy sock! I used Wendy's pattern but after swatching I actually used the Handy Book of Patterns to figure out how many stitches to cast on and then I used Booty McCutie's feet to measure as I went along.. I bound off with a US4 Addi Turbo because I bind off tightly. They fit perfectly, maybe a little too perfectly. When you have a 5 1/2 year old who is as tall as an 8 year old you should know better than to buy or make items that fit perfectly. If you do, they only fit for about 2 weeks.

E loves her sock and wanted to wear them when I had only finished one; she said that mismatched socks would be fine. I made her wait until they were both knit and laundered.



PS Technically this is my first pair of socks. In the past I knit other socks but had a serious case of SSS and never finished (or even started!) the second sock. The result was a couple of socks living in my stash mismatched in yarn, color, and size; they've since been frogged.

03 July 2006

Nice Thong



Someone asked me if I could find a pattern for a thong sock but I can't remember who so I'm posting it here. I also am not quite sure if it was a thong sock or a sock that's like a glove for you feet but hopefully I got it right.
Link

*Update There's another pattern in the new Knitty

Teach Your Children Well

Count no day lost in which you waited your turn, took only your share and sought advantage over no one. -Robert Brault